From Dugout to Decanter: Dodgers Who Love Wine

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Baseball and wine might not seem like an obvious pairing, but for several Los Angeles Dodgers players, the two go hand in hand. Whether it’s showering each other in sparkling wine after a big win, gifting teammates special vintages, or even producing their own wine, these Dodgers prove that great taste extends beyond the diamond. Let’s take a look at how wine culture has found a home in the back-to-back World Series Champion Dodgers clubhouse.

Dave Roberts – The Winemaker Skipper

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It’s not every day you find a Major League Baseball manager who also happens to own a winery, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is no ordinary leader. Roberts co-founded Red Stitch Wine in Napa Valley, a boutique winery known for its elegant Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Alongside his wife, Tricia, and friends (including former Giants player Rich Aurilia), Roberts brings the same passion, focus, and teamwork to winemaking that he does to baseball.

Freddie Freeman – The Clubhouse Sommelier

First baseman Freddie Freeman has earned a reputation not just for his smooth swing, but for his refined wine palate. Freeman is a well-known wine enthusiast who often orders premium bottles during team dinners and shares wine recommendations with his teammates. His appreciation for fine wine has become somewhat legendary within the Dodgers clubhouse.

Freeman even helped Miguel Rojas select bottles as gifts for new Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a thoughtful gesture that shows just how deeply wine culture runs through this team. It’s not hard to imagine Freeman as the team’s unofficial sommelier, helping teammates explore the world of wine.

Max Muncy – Wine for a Cause

Slugger Max Muncy has found a meaningful way to combine wine and philanthropy. Partnering with Uncork for a Cause, Muncy and his wife, Kellie, launched a special charity wine label in collaboration with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. Proceeds from their custom wine benefit local community programs that support youth and families across Los Angeles.

Image via uncorkforacause.com

It’s a perfect pairing, good wine and a great cause. The Muncys’ project shows that wine can be more than just a beverage. It can be a way to give back. Their involvement underscores the compassionate side of the Dodgers roster, a team that knows how to use its platform (and palate) for good!

Shohei Ohtani – Toasting History

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When Shohei Ohtani achieved his historic 50/50 season (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases), the baseball world took notice, and so did the wine world. To celebrate his record-breaking accomplishment, Ohtani received a collection of exclusive wines from Italy, France, and the United States each with 50/50 on the label. 

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It was a fitting tribute to a player whose career, like a fine wine, only gets better with time. Even Decoy Wines joined in the celebration, sending a special gift to Decoy, Shohei Ohtani's beloved dog who is often spotted at Dodger's Stadium. 

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Miguel Rojas – The Wine Gifter

Infielder and 2025 World Series legend Miguel Rojas might just be the Dodgers’ most thoughtful teammate. Known for his warm personality and clubhouse leadership, Rojas has made it a tradition to welcome new teammates with bottles of wine. When Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined the Dodgers in 2024, Rojas personally gifted each of them special bottles 

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Of course, Rojas doesn’t make these selections alone. He often consults Freddie Freeman for wine-buying tips, to make sure his gifts hit the mark. It’s a thoughtful tradition that helps build connection and team spirit in the clubhouse.

Roki Sasaki – A Toast in Return

While wine is the drink of choice for many Dodgers, rookie pitcher Roki Sasaki took a more traditional Japanese route to show appreciation. After receiving jersey number 11 from Miguel Rojas, Sasaki gifted Rojas two beautiful bottles of sake and a sake glass set as a thank-you. It was a cultural exchange that spoke volumes. 

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The exchange between Sasaki and Rojas perfectly captures the Dodgers’ clubhouse culture. International, respectful, and united by a love of great traditions and great drinks.

A Clubhouse with Taste

From winemakers to wine lovers, the Dodgers are showing that baseball’s elite can also appreciate the finer things in life. Whether it’s Dave Roberts’ Napa Valley ventures, Freddie Freeman’s refined palate, or Max Muncy’s charitable bottles, wine has become a meaningful part of the Dodgers’ identity 

So the next time you raise a glass during a Dodgers game, remember, you’re in good company. This team doesn’t just know how to hit home runs. They know how to savor the moment, one pour at a time.

Contributed by Ray Ibanez, E-Commerce Manager for Plume Ridge Bottle Shop.